Jonathan Pennington on sat 6 oct 01
I've got about 100 IFBs plus pieces, 12 Ft of 2ft wide kaowool blanket,
and lots of hard brick for firebox and such. I'm trying to build a
relatively small single burner (maybe dual) gas kiln and would like some
ideas
from others who have built small kilns like this. I have Olsen's book,
still need to find Lou's, and have basic fundamentals in mind. Still,
because the kilns in Olsen are so big, it'd be nice to see what others
have done on a smaller scale. What's best for this small scale? I'm looking
at maybe 2-2 1/2 brick width/depth interior space. Guess these are 9" IFB,
so maybe 30" or so interior which is only 15.6 cubic feet.
Here's what I'm working on. Mid to high fire, mostly ^6 stuff. Using
propane fuel tank heating
single brick sides, wrapped in single layer of kaowool.
This seems like it will give me enough insulation and save building
two-brick walls which seems like too much for this size.
I have a very heavy duty industrial cart that I was going to build it on,
instead of legs, so that I can roll it into my garage when not in use. Hard
brick for the base, firebox, and probably the bottom brick layer on the
sides.
I was thinking about a natural downdraft, but don't have enough IFB for
the chimney/flue, and don't know what else I can use- hardbrick probably.
But I don't actually know if a natural downdraft will be the best solution
for a kiln this size. I have kiln cement for mortar, but might mix up a
clay
mortar instead if kiln cement isn't the best choice. I don't know about
building
the opening, and thought about using kilnshelves and brick to create a top
opening kiln, instead of dealing with a door.
Any ideas and suggestions from those who've built small kilns would be
appreciated.
-J
--
Jonathan Pennington | jwpennin@bellsouth.net
"It's hard to take life too seriously
when you realize yours is a joke." -me
Klyf Brown on tue 9 oct 01
Jonathan;
If you read Olsen's book cover to cover, even the parts you may
think you are not interested in, you should be able to build any kind of
kiln out of any kind of material fired on any fuel you select (except
ssolar, but Studio Potter covers that). There are pricnipals of kiln
building that apply regardless of size or material and he presents this
information in a manner that makes sense even to someone who has
never fired a kiln or laid a brick. The third edition that came out
recently has lots of new stuff not covered in the one I learned from
(the first edition, right after it came out).
After you read it cover to cover, then go back and study in depth the
parts you think apply to the kind of kiln you decide to build. By the
time you finish the first read through you will probably be settling on a
design in your mind.
Klyf Brown, who already read the book, has build and rebuilt dozens
of kilns and is now reading the third edition before he builds his new
kiln.
10/6/01 3:27:25 AM, Jonathan Pennington
wrote:
>I've got about 100 IFBs plus pieces, 12 Ft of 2ft wide kaowool
blanket,
>and lots of hard brick for firebox and such. I'm trying to build a
>relatively small single burner (maybe dual) gas kiln and would like
some
>ideas
>from others who have built small kilns like this. I have Olsen's book,
>still need to find Lou's, and have basic fundamentals in mind. Still,
>because the kilns in Olsen are so big, it'd be nice to see what others
>have done on a smaller scale. What's best for this small scale? I'm
looking
>at maybe 2-2 1/2 brick width/depth interior space. Guess these are
9" IFB,
>so maybe 30" or so interior which is only 15.6 cubic feet.
>
>Here's what I'm working on. Mid to high fire, mostly ^6 stuff. Using
>propane fuel tank heating
>single brick sides, wrapped in single layer of kaowool.
>This seems like it will give me enough insulation and save building
>two-brick walls which seems like too much for this size.
>I have a very heavy duty industrial cart that I was going to build it
on,
>instead of legs, so that I can roll it into my garage when not in use.
Hard
>brick for the base, firebox, and probably the bottom brick layer on
the
>sides.
>I was thinking about a natural downdraft, but don't have enough IFB
for
>the chimney/flue, and don't know what else I can use- hardbrick
probably.
>But I don't actually know if a natural downdraft will be the best
solution
>for a kiln this size. I have kiln cement for mortar, but might mix up a
>clay
>mortar instead if kiln cement isn't the best choice. I don't know
about
>building
>the opening, and thought about using kilnshelves and brick to create
a top
>opening kiln, instead of dealing with a door.
>
>Any ideas and suggestions from those who've built small kilns would
be
>appreciated.
>
>-J
>--
>Jonathan Pennington | jwpennin@bellsouth.net
>
> "It's hard to take life too seriously
> when you realize yours is a joke." -me
>
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